MELBOURNE

Hoards of patrons both young and old scrambled along Birrarung Marr on their way to the Circus Oz Big Top for its grand opening night! The foyer of the tent was packed to the brim as we weaved our way past the various indoor stalls. The smell of popcorn and hot jam donuts sailed through the air, as sequins adorned performers enthusiastically pranced around greeting guests.

Those who live and work near the St Kilda Road precinct know that during winter, when the city is swathed by dark clouds and swamped by rain, outdoor revelry is near impossible. So if you’re longing for a homespun, welcoming refuge, then tiptoe beyond the Beer Garden to the heart of The Village where you will find The Bistro – a charming, old pub which offers the perfect recourse for those blustery Melbourne evenings.

Those kids from the 90's, Jebediah, are back. It's their 20th anniversary and it's time to party with one hell of a tour. To celebrate their first night in Melbourne, punk rockers Bodyjar are the opening act. They kick things off with a few songs from their 98 album, No Touch Red, before playing an assortment of tracks from Plastic Skies and Role Model. Loud and crunchy guitar riffs populate the set as Bodyjar fill the room with an energy that can only be relieved by breaking out into a skank. 'Too Drunk To Drive' brings back vivid memories of their 80's themed video clip and Adalita prancing about like a giant dork alongside a poker faced singer, Cam Baines. However it's 'Not The Same' and the cover of 'Hazy Shade of Winter' that truly demonstrates their punk prowess.

It was with much jubilation that I headed on down to Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre to see the one and only Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was opening night, and the auditorium was absolutely packed! The audience was what you would affectionately call an ‘excited bunch’ with chortling laughter reverberating around the theatre, and patrons practically jumping out of their seats with antici……pation!

It was a crisp morning as I approached the giant tent, looming on the horizon like a glorious castle. I moved with cautious steps, gaining momentum as my excitement grew. I was about to gain entry into the secret world of the Circus Oz Big Top, to go where only few had gone before. A preview of the magic and mystique that happens behind closed ‘doors’ awaited me, and I was keenly anticipating what would turn out to be a marvellous morning.

It’s time to don your mittens and scarves because winter is finally here. But don’t expect to huddle around the heater at home on these chilly evenings because South Yarra’s Lucky Penny is soon to be launching The Hunter’s Kitchen, where they will deliver hearty meals with a unique Scandinavian twist.

Part of the Extraordinary Routines ‘In Conversation’ event as the Emerging Writers Festival, Penny Modra, founder of Melbourne copywriting studio The Good Copy, sits down with Madeleine Dore to reveal her daily writing process.

Last Orders is an incredible sample of circus performances that feature the 2015 graduating students from the National Institute of Circus Arts. Our exclusive peek of the show featured three excerpts of the highly talented young people before they head out into the world to begin their professional careers. Carl Dziunka was there to capture their routines.

Melbourne’s dynamic food precinct in Flinders Lane has received an exciting new addition to its Manhattan-style eateries and bars. Having quietly opened its doors in May, not even the chilly winter elements or the threat of rain could keep the steady flow of bourgeoisie from flocking to the official launch of Woody.P last week.

Call me bold, but I could not tell you another album that I have felt a stronger connection to than I Forget Where We Were, Ben Howard’s sophomore release of late last year. It’s such a huge leap from his debut offering Every Kingdom and it just really bloody gets me in the feels, you know? So naturally, I have been itching to experience this amazing full length masterpiece in the flesh for a number of months now, particularly with this tour being a rescheduled show following Howard’s cancelled Bluesfest appearance back in April.

Appearing at the Emerging Writers’ Festival as part of the Extraordinary Routines ‘In Conversation’ series, columnist, feminist and prolific tweeter Clementine Ford sits down to discuss her day-to-day life.

Melbourne has a new burger haven and it might not be exactly what punters had in mind. The launch of the St Kilda Burger Bar (STKBB) at the Grosvenor Hotel on 15th June 2015 will see this city experiencing its first ever pub drive-through burger joint.

The first thing that hit me as soon as I entered into Mister Bianco is just how buzzed the atmosphere was; there was chatter coming from every corner, friendly and elated laughing over huge glasses of gorgeous red wine, blotches of pasta sauce spilled on linen-dressed tables. It's always a promising sight to see, a restaurant so popular that it just has to be worth trekking up to Kew for, and food so tasty that people don't mind looking a bit uncouth at times. This little slice of all things Sicilian certainly has an inspired atmosphere, and it's no surprise that inspiration is mirrored in their menu.

Move over Oktoberfest. If you’re longing for good beer, there’s no better place to experience the unique than at Good Beer Week. With over 250 events, this is a festival that honours everything about craft beer. Currently in its fifth incarnation, Good Beer Week plays host to a number of vibrant events, where foodies and beer-lovers can meet to share multitudes of wisdom, flavour and good times.